With Color Filter Or Operation According To Color Filter Patents (Class 348/273)
  • Patent number: 11888004
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a pixel array unit including a plurality of pixel groups, each of the plurality of pixel groups being one of i) a normal pixel group including only normal pixels, or ii) a mixed pixel group including at least one normal pixel and at least one phase difference detection pixel, wherein the pixel array unit comprises at least one normal pixel group and at least one mixed pixel group. For each normal pixel group, the normal pixels receive light transmitted through a same colored color filter. For each mixed pixel group, the at least one phase difference detection pixel shares an on-chip lens with at least one other phase difference detection pixel and receives light transmitted through a same colored color filter as the at least one other phase difference detection pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichiro Takahashi, Kazuhito Kobayashi, Katsumi Nishikori, Shoyu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11768106
    Abstract: A device includes a conversion unit, a generation unit configured to generate a pulse signal based on a signal from the conversion unit, a counter circuit configured to count the generated pulse signal, and a time measurement circuit configured to measure a time wherein one of a count value counted by the counter circuit or a time measurement value measured by the time measurement circuit is selectively output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamashita, Shigeharu Aoki
  • Patent number: 11611726
    Abstract: Examples of the disclosure relate to apparatus, methods and computer programs for enabling sub-pixel information to be determined in captured images. The apparatus can comprise means for activating at least one filter wherein the at least one filter is positioned in front of at least one image sensor. The at least one filter is configured to at least partially filter light such that the at least one filter has a spatial variation of transparency on an analogue scale across an area covered by the at least one filter. The apparatus also comprises means for detecting an image captured by the at least one image sensor; and using information relating to the spatial variation of transparency of the at least one filter to determine sub-pixel information in the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
    Inventor: Christopher Wright
  • Patent number: 11553117
    Abstract: To reduce power consumption in an image pickup apparatus that captures a plurality of pieces of image data. An image pickup apparatus includes a signal processing unit and a control unit. The signal processing unit executes, in accordance with a predetermined control signal, either compound-eye processing for synthesizing a plurality of pieces of image data by carrying out signal processing on each of the plurality of pieces of image data or monocular processing for carrying out the signal processing on any one of the plurality of pieces of image data. The control unit supplies the predetermined control signal to the signal processing unit and causes one of the compound-eye processing and the monocular processing to be switched to the other one of the compound-eye processing and the monocular processing, on a basis of a result of a comparison between a measured predetermined physical amount and a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11483525
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an imaging device capable of selectively taking out only a specific electromagnetic wavelength and generating a signal with an enhanced wavelength resolution, and an electronic apparatus. There are provided a first pixel including a metallic thin film filter configured to transmit a light in a first frequency band and a second pixel including a color filter configured to transmit a light in a second frequency band wider than the first frequency band. A signal in a third frequency band is generated from the respective signals of a plurality of first pixels each including a metallic thin film filter configured to transmit a light in the different first frequency bands. The present technology can be applied to a CMOS image sensor of backside irradiation type or surface irradiation type, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Taro Sugizaki
  • Patent number: 11425341
    Abstract: An image display device includes: an image input unit having a plurality of channels; a generation unit which processes input data inputted to each of the plurality of channels and generates display image data for displaying an image of one frame; and a detection unit which detects a missing of input data on each of the channels. If a missing of input data is detected by the detection unit, the generation unit executes interpolation processing to interpolate and generate an image feature quantity of an unset pixel which is a pixel forming the display image data and whose image feature quantity cannot be set due to the missing of input data. In the interpolation processing, the image feature quantity of the unset pixel is interpolated with an image feature quantity of a reference pixel selected from pixels other than the unset pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuto Wada, Fumitaka Furuya
  • Patent number: 11412165
    Abstract: An image sensor is presented which includes a pixel array including a plurality of image sensing pixels in a substrate, a phase detection shared pixel in the substrate, the phase detection shared pixel including two phase detection subpixels arranged next to each other, a color filter fence disposed on the plurality of image sensing pixels, and the phase detection shared pixel, the color filter fence defining a plurality of color filter spaces, a plurality of color filter layers respectively disposed in the plurality of color filter spaces on the plurality of image sensing pixels, and the phase detection shared pixel, a first micro-lens disposed on each of the plurality of image sensing pixels to have a first height, and a second micro-lens disposed to vertically overlap the two phase detection subpixels of the phase detection shared pixel and to have a second height greater than the first height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hongki Kim, Minkyung Kim, Minkwan Kim, Minho Jang, Insung Joe
  • Patent number: 11404352
    Abstract: A dielectric layer is arranged on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate, a metal layer providing a contact area is embedded in the dielectric layer, a top metal is arranged on an opposite main surface of the substrate, and an electrically conductive interconnection through the substrate, which comprises a plurality of metallizations arranged in a plurality of via holes, connects the contact area with the top metal. The plurality of metallizations is surrounded by an insulating layer penetrating the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: AMSAG
    Inventors: Victor Sidorov, Stefan Jessenig, Georg Parteder
  • Patent number: 11394935
    Abstract: A pixel array for reducing image information loss and an image sensor including the same are provided. The pixel array includes a plurality of color filter array (CFA) cells having a certain size and each including a plurality of CFA blocks in width and length directions of the CFA cell, wherein each of the CFA blocks includes a sub block, which is at a central region of each of the CFA blocks and includes m*n color pixels, and an outer region, which is other than the sub block and includes color pixels, wherein the m*n color pixels of the sub block include color pixels sensing first through third colors, and the outer region includes a relatively high number of first pixels sensing the first color and a relatively low number of second pixels sensing at least one selected from the second color and the third color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soyoun Park, Byungwook Jung
  • Patent number: 11361580
    Abstract: A screen module includes an external screen, a first light blocking layer, a substrate, and a reflection layer that are disposed from outside to inside. An imaging unit array is disposed on the substrate, the imaging unit array includes a plurality of imaging units), and a photosensitive surface of the imaging unit is opposite to the reflection layer. A first aperture array is disposed on the first light blocking layer, the first aperture array includes a plurality of first apertures, and the first aperture is used to allow light reflected by an object outside the screen to the reflection layer to pass through. The reflection layer is configured to reflect, to the imaging unit, the light passing through the first aperture. Thus, user convenience can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fan Wang, Honghai Zhang, Wenxiong Wei, Ao Shen, Yi Hu
  • Patent number: 11363306
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for processing video. An encoder implementing the systems and methods described herein may receive video data comprising a plurality of frames and may partition each frame of the plurality of frames into a plurality of coding units. The encoder may then partition a coding unit into two or more prediction units. The encoder may determine, based on one or more coding parameters, a target bit rate, and characteristics of a human visual system (HVS), a coding mode for each of the two or more prediction units to minimize distortion in the encoded bitstream. The encoder may then determine a residual signal comprising a difference between each of the two or more prediction units and each of one or more corresponding prediction areas in a previously encoded frame and then generate an encoded bitstream comprising the residual signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Dan Grois, Alexander Giladi
  • Patent number: 11348960
    Abstract: An image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes a substrate and a conductive line pattern. The substrate includes an isolation pattern that extends from a bottom surface of the substrate into the substrate and defines pixel regions, and a photoelectric conversion region and a transistor for each of the pixel regions. The conductive line pattern is disposed on a top surface of the substrate, and vertically overlaps the isolation pattern in plan view and electrically connects to transistors of two or more of the pixel regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyoun-Jee Ha, Changhwa Kim, Jeongsoon Kang
  • Patent number: 11330201
    Abstract: A light sensing circuit and an image sensor are provided. The image sensor includes a first pixel unit including a plurality of first photodiodes and a first driving circuit to generate a first pixel signal based on an amount of charges stored in the plurality of first photodiodes, a second pixel unit including a plurality of second photodiodes and a second driving circuit to generate a second pixel signal based on an amount of charges stored in the plurality of second photodiodes, and a switching circuit connected to the first driving circuit through a first diffusion node and connected to the second driving circuit through a second diffusion node. The switching circuit connects or disconnects the first diffusion node and the second diffusion node based on a mode selection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seungjoon Lee, Jungbin Yun, Younghwan Park, Jeongjin Cho
  • Patent number: 11302733
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a device isolation layer disposed in a substrate and defining pixel regions, and a grid pattern on a surface of the substrate. The grid pattern overlaps the device isolation layer between adjacent pixel regions in a direction perpendicular to the surface. The grid pattern has a width less than a width of the device isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Jang, Jungchak Ahn, Junsung Park, Younggu Jin
  • Patent number: 11265504
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern; and a pixel signal read-out unit including an AD conversion unit performing analog-to-digital (AD) conversion of a pixel signal read out from the pixel unit, wherein each pixel included in the pixel unit includes division pixels divided into regions in which photosensitivity levels or electric charge accumulating amounts are different from one another, the pixel signal reading unit includes a normal read-out mode and a multiple read-out mode, and includes a function of changing a configuration of a frame in accordance with a change of the read-out mode, and wherein the AD conversion unit acquires a pixel signal of one pixel by adding the division pixel signals while performing AD conversion for the division pixel signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Minagawa, Go Asayama
  • Patent number: 11258993
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device and an electronic apparatus that enable simultaneous acquisition of a signal for generating a high dynamic range image and a signal for detecting a phase difference. The solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixel sets each including color filters of the same color, for a plurality of colors, each pixel set including a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a plurality of photodiodes PD. The present technology can be applied, for example, to a solid-state imaging device that generates a high dynamic range image and detects a phase difference, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Kozo Hoshino
  • Patent number: 11240450
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging element including a plurality of pixels that includes at least two phase difference detection pixels for focus detection. Each pixel has a stacked structure including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that are stacked on top of each other and absorb light beams different in wavelength from one another to generate electrical charges, and each phase difference detection pixel includes, in the stacked structure, a color filter that partially covers an upper face of one of the photoelectric conversion elements and absorbs a light beam with a specific wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ando, Hideaki Togashi, Shinpei Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 11223758
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for driving the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic device capable of improving auto-focusing accuracy by using a phase difference signal obtained by using a photoelectric conversion film. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel including a photoelectric conversion portion having a structure where a photoelectric conversion film is interposed by an upper electrode on the photoelectric conversion film and a lower electrode under the photoelectric conversion film. The upper electrode is divided into a first upper electrode and a second upper electrode. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging device or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Hatano, Fumihiko Koga, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Shinichiro Izawa
  • Patent number: 11222574
    Abstract: A method when expressing gradation for a color image including binarizing tone values of first image data to produce second image data including pixels each having colors with respective binarized tone values, classifying pixels of the first image data into a plurality of first pixel groups and specifying a pixel where a color centroid is positioned for each color in each first pixel group, classifying pixels of the second image data into second pixel groups PXG2 corresponding to the first pixel groups and calculating the number of light pixels for each color in each second pixel group, producing third image data from the second image data, information related to the color centroid, and information related to the number of light pixels, and producing fourth image data by changing the position of a light pixel with the position of a dark pixel in the third image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Kubota
  • Patent number: 11212477
    Abstract: To prevent generation of an invalid frame while suppressing power consumption. An image processing device including an ADC unit including a plurality of ADCs configured to convert a pixel signal read from an image sensor from an analog format to a digital format, and a selection unit configured to select the number of used ADCs, which is the number of ADCs used, among the plurality of ADCs on the basis of a decimation rate of pixels in reading of the pixel signal from the image sensor, in which the number of used ADCs and the decimation rate are switched such that a product of the number of used ADCs and the decimation rate is maintained to be a constant state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chihiro Okada
  • Patent number: 11201188
    Abstract: An imaging device may have an array of image sensor pixels. Each image sensor pixel of the array of image sensor pixels may have first and second photodiodes with different sensitivities. The photodiode having the lower sensitivity may be coupled to a storage diode and may alternately discard charge and transfer charge to the storage diode during an integration time for flicker mitigation. The length of time for which charge is discarded in each shutter cycle for flicker mitigation may be selected to adjust dynamic range of the imaging pixel. Upon conclusion of the integration time, charge from the storage diode may be sampled in a high conversion gain readout. Overflow charge from a dual conversion gain capacitor may then be sampled in a low conversion gain readout. Charge from the photodiode having higher sensitivity may finally be sampled in a high conversion gain readout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Nanda Palaniappan, Minseok Oh
  • Patent number: 11181671
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a plurality of filter units, transmission wavelengths of which can be adjusted; a plurality of photoelectric conversion units that receive light transmitted through the filter unit; and a control unit that alters a size of a first region containing a first filter unit, among the plurality of filter units, through which light at a first wavelength is transmitted before entering a photoelectric conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Komai
  • Patent number: 11152405
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a plurality of pixels, a pixel connection section, and a pixel reset section. The plurality of pixels each include a photoelectric conversion section that generates a charge according to irradiated light, a charge holding section that holds the generated charge, and a signal generation section that generates as an image signal a signal according to the held charge. The pixel connection section conducts between charge holding sections of the plurality of pixels and thereby allows each of the charge holding sections of the plurality of pixels to hold the charge that has been generated by the photoelectric conversion section of one pixel of the plurality of pixels. The pixel reset section discharges and resets the charge of the respective charge holding sections of the plurality of pixels when the pixel connection section conducts between the respective charge holding sections of the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Ikuhiro Yamamura
  • Patent number: 11128843
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing image-sensor data generated by the image sensor, where the image sensor has a color filter array with a pre-determined number of filter sets, and where each set of filters has a single color, splitting the image-sensor data into a pre-determined number of images, where each image corresponds to a portion of the image-sensor data associated with one of the sets of filters, compressing each of the images using an image compression algorithm, and sending the compressed images to a second computing device, where the second computing device is configured to create an output image based on the compressed images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ohad Meitav, David Vakrat, Vlad Fruchter, Andrey Tovchigrechko
  • Patent number: 11121168
    Abstract: A back side illumination (BSI) image sensor with a dielectric grid opening having a planar lower surface is provided. A pixel sensor is arranged within a semiconductor substrate. A metallic grid is arranged over the pixel sensor and defines a sidewall of a metallic grid opening. A dielectric grid is arranged over the metallic grid and defines a sidewall of the dielectric grid opening. A capping layer is arranged over the metallic grid, and defines the planar lower surface of the dielectric grid opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-Wei Cheng, Horng Huei Tseng, Chao-Hsiung Wang, Chun-Hao Chou, Tsung-Han Tsai, Kuo-Cheng Lee, Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Yung-Lung Hsu
  • Patent number: 11102432
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a first image sensor comprising first pixels that receive incident light, and that include a first and second photoelectric conversion units that are arranged in a first direction; and a second image sensor including second pixels that receive light that has passed through the first image sensor, and that include a third and fourth photoelectric conversion units that are arranged in a second direction that is different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Izumi
  • Patent number: 11081513
    Abstract: A substrate includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array structure and has a front side and a back side opposite to the front side. An interconnection is arranged on the front side of the substrate. An insulating layer, a color filter, and a micro-lens are arranged on the back side of the substrate. A pixel separation structure is disposed in the substrate. The pixel separation structure includes a conductive layer having a grid structure in a planar view of the image sensor and surrounds each of the plurality of pixels. A back side contact is vertically overlapped with and electrically connected to a grid point portion of the grid structure of the conductive layer of the pixel separation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-seok Kim, Byung-jun Park, Hee-geun Jeong, Seung-joo Nah
  • Patent number: 11050943
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a connecting unit (connector) that connects with an external apparatus; a setting unit sets a connection mode to any of a plurality of connection modes, including a first connection mode in which an image having a gradation resolution which is not higher than a first gradation resolution is outputted, and a second connection mode in which an image having a gradation resolution which is higher than the first gradation resolution is outputted; and a control unit controls so that in a case where the connection is in the second connection mode and an instruction to switch a first screen including a captured image to a second screen not including a captured image is received, the set connection mode is switched from the second connection mode to the first connection mode, and the second screen is outputted from the connecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Emi Kondo, Tatsuya Nishiguchi, Tomoaki Takahashi, Yosuke Takagi
  • Patent number: 11050936
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for implementing high dynamic range and automatic exposure functions in a video system. In one aspect, a method is performed at a video camera device and includes, while operating in an HDR mode: (1) capturing video data of a scene, including: (a) capturing a first subset of the video data with a first exposure time; and (b) capturing a second subset of the video data with a second exposure time, lower than the first exposure time; (2) combining video data of the first subset with video data of the second subset to generate an HDR frame; and (3) adjusting a duration of at least one of the first exposure time and the second exposure time based on one or more parameters of the captured video data, thereby altering a ratio of the first exposure time to the second exposure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: William Duran, Adrian Proca
  • Patent number: 11049232
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application provide an image fusion apparatus and an image fusion method. The image fusion apparatus includes: a light acquisition device, an image processor, and an image sensor having four types of photosensitive channels. The four types of photosensitive channels include red, green and blue RGB channels and an infrared IR channel. The light acquisition device is configured to filter a spectrum component of a first predetermined wavelength range from incident light to obtain target light. The first predetermined wavelength range is a spectrum wavelength range in which a difference between the responsivities of the RGB channels and the responsivity of the IR channel in the image sensor in the infrared band is higher than a first predetermined threshold. The image sensor is configured to convert the target light into an image signal through the RGB channels and the IR channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng Fan, Hai Yu, Shiliang Pu
  • Patent number: 11025899
    Abstract: What is disclosed are systems and methods of optical correction for pixel evaluation and correction for active matrix light emitting diode device (AMOLED) and other emissive displays. Optical correction for correcting for non-homogeneity of a display panel uses sparse display test patterns in conjunction with a defocused camera as the measurement device to avoid aliasing (moiré) of the pixels of the display in the captured images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Ignis Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Shyshkin, Adam Saechao
  • Patent number: 11018174
    Abstract: Techniques of drawing ESD current away from an image sensor device of a CMOS image sensor die include using a light shield configured to block light from an image sensor device. The light shield may be used to draw the ESD current away when it has an electrical connection to an ESD ground bus and/or to a bond pad of the CMOS image sensor die. Advantageously, the light shield has a low resistance due to its large surface area. Accordingly, parallel connections to the bond pads and/or ESD bus have a resistance close to the low resistance of the light shield without altering the size of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Wright
  • Patent number: 11012655
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image sensor and to an imaging system comprising such a sensor. According to the invention, the overall conversion curve describing the conversion between photon flux and digital number comprises a first region in which the conversion is essentially linear and a second region in which the conversion is essentially non-linear. According to the invention, the non-linearity of the second region is obtained by operating the photodiode of the image sensor in its non-linear range and by changing the gain associated with the conversion between pixel voltage and digital number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TELEDYNE DALSA B.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Wilhelmus Elisabeth Verbugt, Willem-Hendrik Maes
  • Patent number: 10977778
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed describing an adaptive approach for image bracket selection and fusion, e.g., to generate low noise and high dynamic range (HDR) images in a wide variety of capturing conditions. An incoming image stream may be obtained from an image capture device, wherein the incoming image stream comprises a variety of differently-exposed captures, e.g., EV0 images, EV? images, EV+ images, long exposure (or synthetic long exposure) images, EV0/EV? image pairs, etc., which are received according to a particular pattern. When a capture request is received, a set of rules and/or a decision tree may be used to evaluate one or more capture conditions associated with the images from the incoming image stream and determine which two or more images to select for a fusion operation. A noise reduction process may optionally be performed on the selected images before (or after) the registration and fusion operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marius Tico, Alok Deshpande, Anita Nariani Schulze, Hao Sun, Jun Hu, Justin Michael Faryabi-Allen, Morten Poulsen, Tak Shing Wong, Wu Cheng
  • Patent number: 10944930
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a photoelectric conversion element converting incident light into a charge and a charge retaining section temporarily retaining the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion element and a light shielding section having an embedded section extending in at least a region between the photoelectric conversion element and the charge retaining section of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ohkubo, Suzunori Endo
  • Patent number: 10930046
    Abstract: An embodiment of a parallel processor apparatus may include a sample pattern selector to select a sample pattern for a pixel, and a sample pattern subset selector communicatively coupled to the sample pattern selector to select a first subset of the sample pattern for the pixel corresponding to a left eye display frame and to select a second subset of the sample pattern for the pixel corresponding to a right eye display frame, wherein the second subset is different from the first subset. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nikos Kaburlasos, Joydeep Ray, John H. Feit, Travis T. Schluessler, Jacek Kwiatkowski, Philip R. Laws
  • Patent number: 10918465
    Abstract: The invention provides a three-dimensional object scanning device using structured lights and method using the same. A combination of specific monochrome light sources is used to construct the content of the structured lights to form a predetermined image, which is projected to the three-dimensional object such as an intraoral object. The combination of blue and green lights effectively eliminates reflective interference of the red or white environment within the intraoral space. Default patterns of the predetermined image are distinguished from one another by using well designed arrangement of color blocks so that specific coding information of location may be embedded and exploited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventor: Po-Fu Wu
  • Patent number: 10874293
    Abstract: An endoscope device includes a light source which generates visible light and excitation light, an imaging unit, an arithmetic unit which generates a visible light image signal according to a first signal and a fluorescence image signal according to a second signal and a third signal, and a switching unit. The imaging unit includes an excitation light, cut filter, a first image sensor, and a second image sensor. The excitation light cut filter transmits the visible light and fluorescence, and filters out the excitation light. A plurality of first photodiodes included in the first image sensor generate the first signal according to the visible light and a second signal according to the fluorescence. A plurality of second photodiodes included in the second image sensor generate the third signal according to the fluorescence transmitted through the plurality of first photodiodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shuichi Kato
  • Patent number: 10867575
    Abstract: An image display apparatus and a method thereof. The image display apparatus includes: a display; a processor; a memory including a first buffer and a second buffer; and at least one program stored in the memory and executed by the processor. The instructions included in the program cause the processor to perform graphics processing on a first image, convert an attribute of the graphics-processed first image, generate an on screen display (OSD) image and control the memory to store the OSD image in the second buffer, perform image quality processing on the first image of which the attribute is converted, and control the display to display the image-quality-processed first image and the OSD image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyun-soo Lee
  • Patent number: 10867367
    Abstract: An image sensor includes first and second pixels to generate a first electric signal from white illumination light and second electric signals from narrow band illumination light, respectively. Density of the first pixels is higher than density of each color components of the second pixels. An image processing apparatus is configured to: interpolate the first electric signal based on the first pixels surrounding the second pixels to generate an interpolated electric signal; calculate a difference between the interpolated electric signal and the second electric signals to generate a color difference signal; discriminate an interpolation direction based on the color difference signal to interpolate a missing color difference signal at each pixel position, thereby generating an interpolated color difference signal; and generate the second electric signals to be generated by the second pixels, based on the interpolated color difference signal and the interpolated electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10868068
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device that can further reduce the influence the film stress generated in an upper electrode has on a photoelectric conversion film, a method of manufacturing the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus. A solid-state imaging device includes: a photoelectric conversion film formed on the upper side of a semiconductor substrate; and two or more light shielding films formed at positions higher than the photoelectric conversion film with respect to the semiconductor substrate. The present technology can be applied to solid-state imaging devices, electronic apparatuses, and the like, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Murata
  • Patent number: 10861886
    Abstract: An image sensor including a light source configured to emit an optical signal to a target object, and a pixel array including a first pixel configured to generate pixel signals based on the optical signal reflected from the target object, the first pixel including a first photo gate group having at least two photo gates that are configured to receive first gate signals with a first phase difference from the optical signal in a time interval and a second photo gate group having at least two photo gates configured to receive second gate signals with a second phase difference from the optical signal in the time interval, may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-gu Jin, Tae-sub Jung, Young-chan Kim
  • Patent number: 10853909
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which determines an order for calculating output image pixels that maximally reuses data in a local memory for computing all relevant output image pixels. Thus, the same set of data is re-used until it is no longer necessary. Output image pixel locations are browsed to determine pixel values in an order imposed by available input data, rather than in an order imposed by pixel positions in the output image. Consequently, the amount of storage required for local memory as well as the number of input image read requests and data read from memory containing the input image is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventor: Dan Nicula
  • Patent number: 10853913
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for processing color information are described. The method may include receiving a first set of image data collected at an image sensor based on a first color filter array having a first filter pattern, calculating a color saturation gradient based on the first set of image data, and calculating multiple color gradients based on the color saturation gradient. The multiple color gradients may each be associated with a region of the first set of image data, where each color gradient characterizes a color variation along a different direction of the region. The method may include generating a second set of image data including a color value for the region based on comparing a first direction gradient of the multiple color gradients with a second direction gradient of the multiple color gradients. Color values associated with the regions may be mapped to a second color filter array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Shang-Chih Chuang, Jing Wang, Xiaoyun Jiang
  • Patent number: 10855959
    Abstract: An image sensing device includes a pixel array of a 4×4 pixel unit including first to fourth sub-pixel arrays of 2×2 pixels. The first and second sub-pixel arrays are arranged in a first diagonal direction, and the third and fourth sub-pixel arrays are arranged in a second diagonal direction intersecting the first diagonal direction. The first and second sub-pixel arrays have a first color pattern, and the third and fourth sub-pixel arrays have second and third color patterns, respectively, and each of the first to third color patterns includes two or more colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Su-Ram Cha, Tae-Hyun Kim, Seong-Hee Park, Chang-Hee Pyeoun
  • Patent number: 10833102
    Abstract: Devices and methods of a transistor device that include a flexible memory cell. The flexible memory cell having a gate stack with sidewalls provided over a substrate. The gate stack including a metal gate layer provided over the substrate. A buffer layer provided over the metal gate layer. A ferroelectric layer provided over the buffer layer. A dielectric layer provided over the ferroelectric layer. Further, a two-dimensional (2D) material layer provided over a portion of a top surface of the dielectric layer. Source and drain regions provided on separate portions of the top surface of the dielectric layer so as to create a cavity that the 2D material layer are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Koon Hoo Teo, Pin-Chun Shen, Chungwei Lin
  • Patent number: 10798311
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise a method and apparatus for reducing spatial flicker artifacts in high dynamic range images produced from multiple image captures with differing integration times. The method and apparatus may comprise, in the image captures, measuring pixel intensity selecting pixels with a predetermined intensity thresholds, calculating a ratio based on a channel selection, normalizing the calculated ratio to an ideal ratio, and applying the normalized ratio to corresponding image pixels in a second image capture to produce a flicker-free image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Manjunath Somayaji, Rohit Ranade
  • Patent number: 10783608
    Abstract: The invention relates to the processing operation of interpolating the colours of a Bayer mosaic image sensor. A first elementary matrix filter, which is a bilinear interpolation filter, of size m×m, m being an odd number larger than or equal to 3, a low-pass matrix filter of size n×n, n being an odd number larger than or equal to 3, and a high-pass matrix filter, complementary to the low-pass filter, of size n×n, are defined. The first matrix filter is convoluted with the low-pass filter, resulting in a low-frequency interpolation filter of size (m+n?1)×(m+n?1), and the first matrix filter is convoluted with the high-pass filter, resulting in a high-frequency interpolation filter of size (m+n?1)×(m+n?1). The matrix of digital signals arising from the pixels is filtered separately, using the pixels of each colour, by the low-frequency interpolation filter. The complete matrix of signals is filtered using the high-frequency interpolation filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: TELEDYNE E2V SEMICONDUCTORS SAS
    Inventor: Bruno Diasparra
  • Patent number: 10750084
    Abstract: [Object] To estimate lens information with no change in photographing conditions. [Solution] An image processing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a positional displacement estimation unit configured to estimate positional displacement between a plurality of input images obtained by photographing an identical photographic subject; an alignment processing unit configured to align positions of the plurality of input images on the basis of the estimated positional displacement; and a lens information estimation unit configured to estimate information of a lens used to photograph the input image depending on a model indicating a deterioration component of the lens on the basis of the aligned input images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruka Asai, Akira Matsui, Hideho Une
  • Patent number: 10728473
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an imaging control method, an imaging device and a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhengtao Zhao